Quincy vs WoodStepper Usage & Stats
Quincy is a most unique music composition tool. It uses tiny grid worlds that one can draw in to determine an initial state. Hitting the play button then starts the world's lifecycle and the changes in population produces music. This modular approach to the interpretation of cellular automata renders Life worlds in styles ranging from Balinese Gamelan music to that of Stockhausen. Auto-generated on-device, interactive music that sounds authentic and goes far beyond the mere triggering of note events or squeaky sine waves. Compositions in Quincy are visually and musically spellbinding and wonderfully strange. They can be looped, react to touch during play and can be shared via AirDrop, messaging and email.
Quincy’s core engine is a full implementation of Conway’s Game of Life, capable of generating all possible Life variants including HighLife and Seeds. It comes with a Life editor, a large library of patterns, color mixer, features an adjustable grid size, random cell insertion and many display options. Editing tools go beyond pen and pattern stamp and also include options like copy, paste and rotate.
On the music production side there are different modules that can be employed to generate textures. They sound quite distinct and are based on scale category. Each module uses its own algorithm to create sound but also defines the key and a base scale to be used as tone material. The Chroma module, for example, is geared towards atonal music with several symmetric and chromatic scales. The Gregorian module on the other hand employs church modes whereas the Pentrix module offers 27 types of pentatonic scales.
Playback is routed through a device’s speakers or headphones with no additional tone source necessary. Quincy offers 128 instruments and adjustable reverb settings. Additionally Quincy's MIDI output can be used to drive external synths on iOS and works nicely with GarageBand.
Quick Features
• Adjustable life parameters
• Adjustable grid size
• Document based
• GM instrument library
• Performance view (iPad)
• Large pattern library
Quincy is very powerful and a joy to work with. Create infinite variations on a theme by combining playback loops with random inserts or use performance mode with one-tap document switching and the ability to draw into playing compositions without disturbing the original. Quincy renders stunning visuals, produces the craziest looking metronomes, very atmospheric soundscapes and strange rhythmic patterns that have many uses in music production. For a taste check out Quincy on our website for links to Quincy's SoundCloud account, Facebook site and video clips.
- Apple App Store
- Paid
- Music
Store Rank
- -
The WoodStepper is a sequencer/synthesizer/sampler having both audio and midi out.
The audio sources can be the track audio, sampled audio (live/track recorded or from file) or the built-in VCO's.
The VCO notes can also be set by the Chordulator which finds chord notes in a live stream or recorded track.
It consists of 4 independent 8-steps sequencers which can be linked to a 16, 24 or 32 steps sequencer.
Each sequencer can independently be set to Synth mode.
So WoodStepper can be used in any combinations of sequencers, synths and looper/samplers.
Each step can also send 4 midi messages (note on, CC, …) to 2 midi channels.
The audio part for each sequencer has a pitch (down) shifter, (Moog lowpass) filter with A(D)SR envelope, saturator, amplitude A(D)SR envelope and delay line which can all be set independently per step.
The VCO notes can be set by midi input and WoodStepper has a function to limit the notes produced by VCO + pitch shifters to a specified key and interval scale.
The app can be used stand-alone (device audio input and output) or as a plugin in a DAW.
The manual can be downloaded from : http://www.woodmansimmaculatemaplesyrupstudio.be/woodstepper/WoodStepperHelp.pdf
- IOS plugin type : AUv3 effect, AUv3 instrument and stand-alone app.
- Has 4 independent 8-steps sequencers.
- Each of the 4 sequencers can be set to Synth mode, the steps can then be used to automate parameters while playing.
- Sequencers can be linked to form 16, 24, or 32 steps sequencer(s).
- Each sequencer can have a different timing.
- Steps can be disabled for non 4/4 patterns.
- Each step can send up to 4 midi messages (+ all previous notes off) on 2 midi channels
- Audio sources can be the track audio, sampled audio or 3 VCO's (per sequencer).
- Sampling (audio coming live or from the DAW track) can be armed (per sequencer) with a button or a midi in CC.
- Samples can also be loaded from file (sample files should be in the WoodStepper iCloud folder)
- Each sequencer has it’s own gain, clipping led and brick-wall limiter.
- VCO’s have the usual waveforms and can be modulated in various ways.
- Full polyphonic mode sends 4 subsequent note-ons to the 4 sequencers/synths.
- Para-polyphonic mode (per sequencer) sends notes 2&3 to the sequencer/synth VCO's 2&3, giving max 12 voices.
- Each sequencer/synth can set the range of receiving midi notes (which allows for up to 4 split keyboard regions).
- Each step has a pitch down shifter (sequencer mode only).
- Pitch shifters have a glide control.
- Pitch shifters can be set to a random value (out of a list of scales).
- Pitch values can be harmonically locked to the Just Scale or the Equally Tempered Scale.
- VCO + Pitch can be limited to a specified key + interval scale (e.g. C Major Pentatonic)
- Each step has a 4-pole Moog Lowpass filter with resonance and ASR (sequencer) or ADSR (synth) envelope.
- Steps have an additional high-pass filter and a saturation control.
- All steps have an ASR (sequencer) or ADSR (synth) amplitude envelope and a step gain.
- Each step has its own delay line with independent timing, feedback, and filtering.
- Step audio and delay can be panned independently per step.
- Sequencers can be started manually, started with the DAW transport, start after receiving a midi note or start audio gated.
- Sequencers can be stopped manually or after a number of bars have been played.
- A “Play 1 Step” button allows to finetune step settings
- An “All Steps” button allows to set the same parameter value in all steps.
- Has a global Dry-Wet, Input gain and Output gain control.
- Presets can be stored in iCloud Drive (makes them available on all your devices).
- Presets can be switched with Midi Program Changes or with the "Next Preset" button when running.
- Major controls can be set with Midi CC messages.
- Ableton Link can synchronise tempo, phase and start-stop with other Ableton Link enabled apps.
- Apple App Store
- Paid
- Music
Store Rank
- -
Quincy VS. 
WoodStepperDecember 17, 2024